‘Hard to function like a normal person’: Post-COVID care clinics popping up around the country

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — More than two months later, Lauren Wallis is still suffering from lingering, debilitating effects from COVID-19.

“Just this unbelievable fatigue, I can sleep and do sleep generally between 15 and 16 hours a night,” she said. “And then when you’re up, it’s muscle aches, constant sweating, forgetfulness.”

Some who have survived COVID-19 are still suffering months later from persistent fevers, headaches and brain fog.

READ: These Central Florida counties are distributing COVID-19 vaccinations for residents 65 and older; here’s how to make an appointment

Now, post-COVID care clinics are starting to pop up around the country.

Wallis’ doctor believes she’s what’s called a long-hauler. Researchers estimate about 10% of all COVID-19 survivors are like her, and still suffering with no clear reason why.

“It’s just hard to function like a normal person,” Wallis said.

READ: COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed at Orange County Convention Center, starting tomorrow

That’s why some hospitals around the country are opening post-COVID clinics. Long-haulers have access to a team of specialists like cardiologists, pulmonologists and neurologists who work together to hopefully figure out what’s wrong faster.

So far, doctors at Mount Sinai’s post-COVID clinic in New York City have seen more than a thousand patients, mostly people younger than 50 years old who were relatively healthy before getting COVID-19.

AdventHealth said it is exploring options to open a long-hauler clinic in the near future.

READ: Osceola County opens registration for COVID-19 vaccinations

Coronavirus outbreak: What you need to know (NCD)

Cox Media Group